Mass Evacuation: Possible Dirty Bomb Found Aboard Vessel at Wando, SC Terminal

In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina the United States Coast Guard have stated that law enforcement officials from the Federal, State, and local levels are investigating a threat at Wando Terminal.

On Wednesday The US Coast Guard released a statement saying the FBI is investigating a report of a "dirty bomb" aboard a vessel within range of the Terminal.

Typically something only seen in film or military training exercises to prevent catastrophe in the event of an attack, a dirty bomb is a series of low level of conventional Explosives that have been carefully created radioactive material for maximum collateral damage.

Emergency responders at the scene however have stated that as of now there has been no detection of radiation in the area. This doesn't mean the threat is overhyped it simply means they cannot locate any leak of radiation. It could however be a well made device that wouldn't show conductive radioactivity results until further examination.

In the initial report put out by the Coast Guard they've stated that around 8 p.m. authorities had been notified of the existence of a potential threat. The threat lay in a shipping container aboard the vessel Maersk Memphis.

The Coast Guard officials stated, "The Maersk Memphis is currently moored at Charleston's Wando terminal which has been evacuated while bomb detection units from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies investigate the threat.”

The Coast Guard also proceeded to state that ”a unified command has been established to oversee the coordinated response.”

Many witnesses on the scene and from the nearby area have claimed the terminal was evacuated, and several have seen authorities taping off a ship. In the event of such a potential hazard this is known as standard operating procedure.

Many other law enforcement agencies and first responders including but not limited to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Hazmat and EMS crews are also on scene. Many Wando Terminal employees have said they were sent home from work early due to the hazard, and were told to leave the terminal around 9 p.m.

Various vacationers and other for-sport boaters said around the time of the evacuation they were also escorted off the water due to the potential risks to themselves and their families.

Source

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